ST. LOUIS (AP) – Two long runs hurt the San Francisco 49ers in the Reggie Bush sweepstakes.

Frank Gore scored the deciding touchdown on a 30-yard run with 4:05 to go and seldom-used Maurice Hicks scored untouched on a 73-yarder on the game’s first snap in a 24-20 comeback victory over the sagging St. Louis Rams on Saturday.

The 49ers (3-12) ended a seven-game losing streak after entering the day tied for the fewest victories in the NFL. But they swept the Rams (5-10) for the first time since 1998, also beating them 28-25 in the opener.

They also moved ahead of the Houston Texans (2-13) in the “race” for the first overall draft pick, presumably for Heisman Trophy winner Bush if the junior tailback leaves Southern Cal.

Jamie Martin threw for a career-best 354 yards against a decimated 49ers secondary and the Rams led 20-7 late in the first half. They were pretty quiet the rest of the way, losing for the sixth time in seven games overall and their fourth straight time at home.

At 3-5, they finished with their first losing record at home since 1998.

The 49ers won even though rookie Alex Smith, this year’s first overall draft pick, still doesn’t have a touchdown pass in his first six professional starts. Smith was 12-for-16 for 131 yards.

Instead, they counted on the two big gains and some misplays by the Rams.

Hicks, who started ahead of injured Kevan Barlow, broke free on a simple off-tackle play to open the game and finished with 109 yards on 10 carries. He entered the game with only 135 yards all season. Gore, who also scored on a 10-yarder in the second quarter, appeared to be jammed up the middle before a cutback left clear sailing on the clinching score.

The Rams twice had the ball deep in San Francisco territory in the fourth quarter, but came up empty. Shawntae Spencer intercepted Martin’s pass in the end zone on the first play of the quarter, and Steven Jackson was stopped for a 1-yard loss on fourth-and-1 at the 49ers 22 with 9:11 to go.

St. Louis also drove to the 31 at the finish before Ben Emanuel intercepted a tipped pass.

The Rams wasted big games from Torry Holt, who caught 10 passes for 163 yards and a 40-yard score, and Jeff Wilkins, who kicked a pair of 50-plus yard field goals.

Martin was 14-for-18 for 178 yards in the first half, hitting Holt for the 40-yard score and setting up Jackson’s touchdown run. Wilkins added field goals of 50 and 51 yards, making him 4-for-4 from beyond the 50 this season.

Joe Nedney added a career-best 56-yard field goal on the last play of the half after some questionable strategy by the Rams, whose obvious lack of urgency made it clear they weren’t interested in mounting a final drive. That prompted the 49ers to use their timeouts to get the ball back.

AP-ES-12-24-05 1617EST